Evolution is the study of origins.
The Theory of Evolution covers only the study of biological life after it first emerged.
The original question was, where did it all start (in this case, human consciousness)? Or, what started the ball rolling?
Do you mean what caused the big bang? I have no idea. I have no idea if it even has a cause.
Do you mean where did the first replicator come from? Simple chemistry, probably acted out in a geothermal vent. Probably. We're not really sure yet.
Do you mean how did human consciousness evolve? We don't really now. We don't know how consciousness works yet or, indeed, what it is for. Now, there's a few interesting ideas around, but none of them are anything more than that at this time.
Who said neither answer was correct? I didn't see it that way, and still don't, as is revealed in several of my posts.
Whether you see it that way or not. I don't. Therefore I cannot answer your either-or question with either of your answers.
The underlying question to all this is, perhaps, did the boeing 747 require intelligent intervention, or did the raw materials process and assemble themselves over billions of years.
The Boeing 747 was designed, as you know. I imagine your hoping that we'll let you generalise from that to life. Trouble is, life has only the tiniest similarity to a Boeing 747, and we have compelling evidence showing it needs no designer.
My guess is that you already know the answer to this, but continue to weave and bob to avoid facing the prospect of "....in the beginning, God...."
I used to be a Christian. I gave it up because I found the concept of god not only totally redundant in explaining the world, but actively contradictory to the world we observe around us.
(Obligatory sidenote pointing out that evolution does not require or imply atheism)
There's another thing I don't know. How is that saying 'god did it' is
any more satisfactory than saying 'I don't know'.
[This message has been edited by Mr Jack, 02-04-2004]